President Trump on Tuesday urged House Republicans to be "flexible" on the Hyde Amendment — the 50-year-old policy barring federal funding for most abortions — as GOP leaders search for a deal to lower health insurance costs before the midterms.
The big picture: Trump's comments signal a notable softening on a long-held Republican policy as party leaders worry about voter backlash over rising Affordable Care Act premiums during an election year.
Driving the news: "You gotta be a little flexible," Trump said in reference to the Hyde Amendment during a caucus retreat in D.C. "You gotta work something. You gotta use ingenuity."
- Trump added that Democrats are "owned" by insurance companies, and suggested the left-leaning lawmakers are responsible for high insurance prices.
- The president told Republicans to seize the opportunity to lower rising costs, telling GOP leaders, "You can own health care."
- "Figure it out," he said. "Let the money go directly to the people."
State of play: Abortion politics have emerged as one of the biggest hurdles in the ongoing debate over whether to extend enhanced subsidies for ACA coverage.
- Republicans are feeling the pressure after the enhanced ACA subsidies expired in December, pushing premiums higher for millions of Americans.
- The House is set to vote Thursday on a "clean" ACA subsidy extension after a group of GOP centrists defied Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and helped the chamber's Democrats secure the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on extending the tax credits.
- However, Senate GOP leadership has signaled it's not likely to go along with the effort.
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Worth noting: The Hyde Amendment does not prevent ACA plans from covering abortions, as long as state or private — not federal — dollars pay for the service. Some states even require or allow ACA plans to include abortion care.
- Democrats say the ACA already has a mechanism to segregate taxpayer funds so they don't pay for the procedure, and they contend Republicans are trying to find a backdoor way to expand abortion restrictions.
Yes, but: Anti-abortion forces have dismissed the requirements now in place as an "accounting gimmick."
- Anti-abortion groups led by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and some GOP lawmakers have pushed to attach the Hyde Amendment to any subsidy extension.
Go deeper: Trump fears impeachment will follow if GOP loses in midterms
